What are thyroid nodules?

Everyone may not know much about thyroid nodules. This is a very common disease. This disease has a high incidence rate among middle-aged women. Thyroid nodules can be benign or malignant. Currently, benign thyroid nodules are the most common, and the chance of malignancy is very small. The appearance of this symptom should also be treated in time to avoid the occurrence of thyroid cancer. So what is thyroid nodule?

What are thyroid nodules? To understand this disease, we should know its symptoms, what kind of people are prone to the disease, what examinations should be done for thyroid nodules, and how to treat this disease. These are all things we need to know. Let's take a look at the detailed introduction below.

Clinical manifestations

1. Nodular goiter

It is more common in middle-aged women. When the body's thyroid hormone is relatively insufficient, the pituitary gland secretes more TSH. Under the long-term stimulation of this increased TSH, the thyroid gland undergoes repeated or continuous hyperplasia, leading to uneven enlargement and nodular changes in the thyroid gland. There may be hemorrhage, cystic changes and calcification within the nodule. The size of the nodules can range from a few millimeters to several centimeters. The main clinical manifestation is thyroid enlargement. Multiple nodules of varying sizes can be felt during palpation. The texture of the nodules is mostly of medium hardness. In a few patients, only a single nodule can be palpated. However, multiple nodules are often found during thyroid imaging or surgery. Patients do not have many clinical symptoms, generally only discomfort in the front of the neck, and thyroid function tests are mostly normal.

2. Nodular toxic goiter

The disease has a slow onset and often occurs in patients who have had nodular goiter for many years. The age is mostly over 40 to 50 years old, and it is more common in women. It may be accompanied by symptoms and physical signs of hyperthyroidism, but the symptoms of hyperthyroidism are generally mild, often atypical, and infiltrative exophthalmos generally does not occur. When palpating the thyroid gland, a smooth round or oval nodule can be felt with clear boundaries and a hard texture. It moves up and down with swallowing, and there is no vascular murmur in the thyroid gland area. Thyroid function tests show elevated thyroid hormone in the blood, which is caused by functional autonomous nodules, and radionuclide scanning shows "hot nodules".

3. Inflammatory nodules

It is divided into infectious and non-infectious types. The former is mainly subacute thyroiditis caused by viral infection, while other infections are rare. In addition to thyroid nodules, subacute thyroiditis is clinically accompanied by fever and local thyroid pain. The size of the nodules depends on the extent of the lesions and the texture is tough. The latter is mainly caused by autoimmune thyroiditis, which is more common in middle-aged and young women. The patients have fewer subjective symptoms. Multiple or single nodules can be palpated during examination. The texture is hard and tough, with little tenderness. Thyroid function tests often show strongly positive thyroglobulin antibodies and thyroid microsomal antibodies.

4. Thyroid cyst

The vast majority are formed by degenerative changes of goiter nodules or adenomas. The cysts contain blood or slightly turbid fluid, have clear boundaries with the surrounding areas, are hard in texture, and are generally painless. Radionuclide scanning shows "cold nodules". A small number of patients are caused by congenital thyrohyoid cysts or remnants of the fourth branchial cleft.

5. Thyroid tumor

Including benign thyroid tumors, thyroid cancer and metastatic cancer.

Thyroid nodules are a very common disease, so if a middle-aged woman gets this disease, don't worry, because today's medicine is very advanced, and common diseases like this can be easily cured through certain diagnosis, examination and treatment. So don't think that thyroid nodules are an incurable disease, as long as you maintain a good attitude, you can be completely cured.

What are thyroid nodules? Through the above introduction, we should understand that this disease has many symptoms. We should pay attention to thyroid tumors. Severe thyroid nodules must be treated. Especially middle-aged women should take precautions against this disease. Even if they are sick, they should not worry too much and should actively seek treatment.